How to Troubleshoot a Wah Pedal
Wah pedals experience more wear and tear than other guitar effects pedals. The "wah wah" effect is produced by moving the footrest up and down, which causes the treble and bass frequencies to swirl back and forth. The footrest is manipulated with various degrees of speed and pressure to achieve various effects. The pedal is turned on and off by stomping on it, which activates a switch underneath the foot rest. Repeated wah pedal use eventually leads to a variety of problems.
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Instructions
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1
Lubricate the gears underneath the pedal with WD-40 if it squeaks. The gears are located under the footrest of the pedal. The constant up and down pedal movement puts a lot of wear and tear on the gears, which could lead to squeaking.
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2
Clean the pot with contact cleaner if the pedal is making scratchy sounds. Pots become contaminated with dirt, dust and debris, which produce the irritating noises. Turn the pedal upside down. Remove the bottom cover with a screwdriver. Spray the pot with contact cleaner. Twist the pot clockwise and counterclockwise to allow the contact cleaner to penetrate the pot. Replace the pot if scratchy noises persist.
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3
Inspect the input and output jacks if the pedal making buzzes, static, squealing noises or intermittent sound. Input and output jacks become loose from constantly plugging and unplugging guitar cables into them. Tighten loose jacks with a wrench. Inspect the wires connected to the jacks. Re-solder frayed or loose wires.
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4
Move the pedal away from other pedals and power sources. Wah pedal are similar to single-coil pickups and easily are effected by other nearby power sources. The interference causes the wah pedal to hum or buzz.
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5
Replace the switch if the pedal won't turn on or off easily. Wah pedals have a switch located in the front of the pedal, directly under the footrest. The pedal is turned on and off by stomping on the pedal with a minimal amount of force. Over time, this causes the switch to wear out.
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